Reducing Food Waste Through Life Cycle Approaches

Through Senate Bill 1383, California municipalities are mandated to divert organic waste away from landfills to processing facilities that can convert the food to clean energy, biofuel, and fertilizers. This bill has created an increased awareness of food scarcity and the environmental consequences of wasting food, in addition to providing municipalities with resources-from-waste technologies for food waste diversion.

To help reduce food waste, households can be educated on how to reduce food waste through food waste prevention efforts, such as Food Smart campaigns. Farmers should also receive support and resources to optimize postharvest operations, invest in marketing, and reduce food loss prior to harvest. In addition to this, food waste can be reclaimed from landfills and turned into resources through strategic resource conversion efforts. For example, in San Jose, organic waste is collected and sent to an anaerobic digestion facility, where it is processed and transformed into clean energy and biofuel.

Food waste is an opportunity to improve the sustainability of the food system. Californians can join the fight in advocating for life cycle approaches to food waste diversion and create a more sustainable food future! With preventative measures, resource conversion, and creative approaches to food waste, we can make a difference in reducing hunger, combating climate change, and creating valuable resources from food waste.

• Waste Not, Want Not, UN Environment
• Explore Jeden’s Eco-Vision
• Reencle Bio Composter – Jeden Bioscience
• Understanding SB 1383: California’s Approach to Organic Waste Reduction and Recycling